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Hinduism and Buddhism

EQ:
1.What are the main beliefs of
Hinduism?
2. What are the main beliefs of
Buddhism?
Hinduism –
Background Information
 Hinduism is a polytheistic religion
that started in India.
 Sacred Texts: Vedas, Ramayana,
Bhagavad-Gita
 There is no single founder of the
religion.
– Hindu beliefs are a combination of the
beliefs of the early Indus Valley peoples
and the Aryans.
Hindu Gods
 Polytheistic: Hindus
believe in many gods;
gods can be in many
forms, including
animals and humans;
 Brahma - the Creator

 Vishnu - the Preserver

 Shiva - the Destroyer


Main Beliefs of Hinduism
 Reincarnation: after death,
souls are reborn into another
form; reincarnation is
determined by karma and
dharma;

 Ahimsa: moral principle of


nonviolence; Hindus believe
that all things are aspects of
brahman, therefore they
should be respected;
Main Beliefs of Hinduism
 Karma: all the actions of a
person's life that affects his
or her fate in the next life;

– People who earn a good


karma are reborn at a
higher level of existence;

 Dharma: the religious and


moral duties of an
individual; duties vary
according to class,
occupation, gender or age;

– by obeying one's
dharma, a person
acquires merit for the
next life
Karma = actions
Dharma = duties
If you obey your dharma and
have good karma you will be
reincarnated to achieve moksha.
How does the caste system
influence Hindu beliefs?
 Caste System =
social classes
into which you
are born and
cannot change;
– after death,
Hindus hope to be
reincarnated into
a higher caste;
– each caste has its
own dharma;
Sacred Animals / Rivers:
 cows, elephants
and other
animals are
viewed as
sacred; the
Ganges River is
the most sacred
river to Hindus;
Buddhism –
Background Information
 Buddhism started in
India by the “Buddha,” or
Siddartha Gautama

 Founder: Siddartha
Gautama = an Indian
prince who sought to
eliminate suffering and
devoted his life to
achieving nirvana;
Main Beliefs of Buddhism
 Karma

 Dharma

 Reincarnation

 Buddhists believe
in NO GODS;
– the Buddha was not
normally viewed as
a god;
Main Beliefs of Buddhism
Eightfold Path /
Middle Way

“the right way;”


making the
right decisions,
actions, effort,
etc.
Main Beliefs of Buddhism
 Four Noble Truths =
 Life is full of
suffering
 Suffering is caused
by desire
 Eliminate suffering
by eliminating desire
 Eliminate desire by
following the
Eightfold Path /
Middle Way
Main Beliefs of Buddhism
 Buddhists do not
believe in the caste
system; Buddhists
believe that anyone, at
any time, can achieve
nirvana;

 Nirvana = the goal of


every Buddhist;
spiritual enlightenment;

 Ahimsa = NON-
VIOLENCE
Spread of Buddhism
Exit Ticket
 Identify
TWO DIFFERENCES in beliefs
between Hinduism & Buddhism

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